It’s the end of an era at NBC Today. Beloved host Hoda Kotb announced that his time on the show will soon be coming to an end.
Hoda shared the surprising news during an emotional segment on this morning’s broadcast.
“I realized it was time to turn the page at 60 and try something new,” she said.
Hoda Kotb Recalls the Moment She Decided to Step Down
Hoda says she made the decision to step away from television (at least for now) on her 60th birthday in August.
“I remember standing outside and looking at this beautiful group of people with these amazing signs. And I thought, ‘This is what the top of the wave looks like to me,’” she said.
“And I thought it couldn’t get any better, and I decided this was the right time to move on.”
Hoda explained that she is primarily motivated by her decision to spend more time with her daughters, Haley, 7, and Hope, 5.
Hoda plans to spend more time with her family
“Obviously, I had my children late in life and I thought they deserved a bigger slice of my time than I got,” she said.
“I feel like we only have a finite amount of time. And so, with all that being said, this is the hardest thing in the world.”
Hoda revealed that she will continue anchoring Today with co-host Savannah Guthrie until January 1, 2025.
She says she will remain at NBC News in an as-yet-unspecified role.
“It’s kind of a big deal for me,” Hoda continued, crying. “I was practicing not to cry, but I cried anyway.”
Hoda’s Story
After starting his career at NBC in Date line in the late 90s, Hoda spent 16 years co-hosting the fourth hour of Todayfirst with Kathie Lee Gifford and then with Jenna Bush Hager.
Since 2017, she has co-anchored the first hour of Todaya role she has shared with Guthrie since 2018.
Kotb also shared a heartfelt letter she wrote to her Today colleagues before this morning’s announcement:
“As I write this, my heart is all over the place. I know I’m making the right decision, but it’s a painful decision. And you all are the reason why,” Hoda wrote.
“They say two things can be right at the same time, and I’m feeling that so deeply right now. I love you and it’s time for me to leave the show.
“My time at NBC was the longest professional love affair of my life. But only because you were by my side on this twenty-six-year adventure.”
We know we speak for millions of people Today viewers when we say that Hoda will be greatly missed.
We can’t wait to see what awaits her in this new and exciting phase of her life.